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G. Christian Larsen
In Memory of Sgt. John E. Hogan, RNZAF
September 5, 2009
Dear Chris & Members
May I on behalf of myself & extended family, thank you & congratulate you and your Society on the wonderful, laborious efforts you have achieved in keeping alive the memories of not only 'brother Jacky' but the many others
that gave up their young lives to try and stop these power hungry maniacs who just seem to keep appearing at regular intervals, wanting to take over countries and the world.
I suppose the positive to come out of the accident which killed Jacky & crew of the "Ventura 11" AJ 211, was the "Winterization" to the aircrafts, that must have saved other lives who flew those aircraft in
Winter conditions.
Chris, we all at times say "what if", what if our family hadn't lost, Brother "Jack" 1943.
Brother "Bill" (William) Ex. Maori Battalion, December, 1946.
My "Dah" John Roddy, Ex. R.N.Z.A.F. December, 1946
My mother, Heni Matekino (Jane), was an absolute rock over those trying years. Always giving and helping until the sad day she passed on.
Over the sixty odd years since my brothers & Dah have gone I think of them everyday and "what if"?
We have "A.N.Z.A.C. Day as you know every year to remember the fallen & of course the ones that did come home, from all the conflicts around the world. The young generation today are getting more & more active
on Anzac Day more than before which is wonderful to see.
Chris, in a little Town of Ruatoria, N.Z., where my family came from, the population before W.W.11 was about 200 every one was war conscious and supported the war effort. Ruatoria was a proud community and none more then for
a young Lieutenant in the Maori Battalion by the name of "Moana Ngarimau" who won the "Victoria Cross" Posthumously for holding a hill in Italy after running out of ammunition, kept throwing rocks & stones
at the Germans until they were all killed. So our little town was proud of the ones that came home and more so of the ones that did not.
So Chris, you & your members must also be equally proud of the Memorial effect you have created. Because my family and I will always be indebted to you for your wonderful efforts.
God Bless you all and thank you all again.
Patrick "Paddy" Hogan
P.S. Chris, we have spoken to Deb's Flowers and have ordered and paid for an arrangement. It would be appreciated if you could pick-up the flowers, as you kindly offered. We ordered them for the 27th September.
They asked for your phone number, but I do not believe there will be a problem. Thank you once more!
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At the conclusion of the service, my wife and I took the flowers up to the St. George Rural Cemetery in St. George, NB. Ten airmen from Pennfield Ridge are buried in a military plot there, including two airmen from New Zealand. We left the flowers on the grave of Sgt. Donald Stuart Bates from
Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
. Sgt. Bates, also a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner like Jacky, was killed 18 days after the crash of Ventura AJ211 which took Jacky's life.
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John Hogan was born at Ruatoria, East Coast, New Zealand on June 2nd 1920. In November 1941 he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a Wireless Air
Gunner. He came to Canada in February 1942 for additional training and was eventually posted to No.34 O.T.U., Pennfield Ridge in November 1942. He was killed when Ventura AJ 211 crashed near Richibucto, NB while on pre-dawn cross country flight.
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G Christian Larsen, Reception Service
First I want to thank "Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society" for hosting this year’s
service. Also wish to thank The Royal Canadian Legion (Branch #40), St. George and the 250 RCAF (Saint John) Wing for their assistance with the on-site service. And thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary for providing the reception
service that we will be enjoying in due course.
In preparation of this year’s service I began a search for the families of those killed at the two former Charlotte County military bases, namely Pennfield Ridge Air Station and Camp Utopia. To date I’ve been able to locate fifteen of the families and several of those
have sent material to be included in today’s service. This material, along with other memorabilia that our society has collected over the last couple years, is on display here today. I would like to share a few lines from the
stories two family members have shared with us.
The first is airmen P/O Bayden Bala Williams who was killed 23 January 1943 when Ventura AE872 broke away from formation and crashed into high trees on Hills Mountain near St. Stephen.
Bayden’s brother Gaynor wrote: "Bayden Bala Williams, age 25, killed when the bomber he was flying crashed into the side of a hill in New Brunswick, January 1943. He was not only a brother but also a friend the one I turned to during my troubled boyhood years. I worshipped him." Gaynor re-counted his brother this way:
"Bayden was a sensitive,
poetic, confident, sentimental, impulsive, aggressive boy. He also had a temper. A scar on his temple would flame red when he was angry. He loved being master of ceremonies at school concerts, loved playing hockey, loved the
girls. I wonder what he would have done had he lived?" Gaynor end his letter with the following sentiments: "I am ever so pleased that people at the Memorial Service will be remembering my brother."
The second is airmen P/O Milton Whitehead Hanson who was killed 10 July 1943 when Ventura AE696 crashed at Pennfield Ridge while attempting to land.
Milton’s sister Ann, his only surviving sibling, writes: "My brother Milton was active in Scouting until he joined the RCAF,
and obtained King Scout standing in 1937. Once, he and other scouts made their own kayaks for a trip to Bertha Lake near Waterton National Park. He also taught me dance steps and would dance with me (his little sister!) at many
school and community dances." In closing Ann remarks "I think the Memorial is a wonderful way to remember those we love who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice for our county."
I’m honoured to say that at least two (2) family members are joining us today. These are P/O Carlyle George Christensen’s sister Hope Fuglem from Alberta and F/S William Gordon Davidson’s nephew Wayne Davidson from ON.
We are also joined by Carlene Waycott and her son Peter along with St. George native Gary Mullin. Peter's paternal grandfather, Buddy Waycott from St. George and Gary's father, Eddy Mullin, a WWI Veteran, were two of the civilian workers killed at "the Ridge". We are also joined by Bob McCarthy
(Saint John) and June Winchester (Ontario). Bob's father Jack McCarthy (Fairville) and June's father Allen "Spark" McCullugh (St. Andrews) were two NB Hydro workers killed during the construction of the Air Station.
In closing I just want to thank everyone who is attendance today to remember the 76 service personal and 6 civilians killed at the two former
Charlotte County military bases; remember those who have since gone on to join their comrades in the sky and listen to the stories from those we still have with us.
Lest We Forget.
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